Meet Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock, UWL’s new Director of Research and Development
Intro
The University of West London’s new Director of Research and Development, Professor of Public Policy and Research Methods Aude Bicquelet-Lock, joined the staff in February.
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One of the things that attracted Aude to the role at UWL was the rich potential of the research environment:
UWL has links with industry, practitioners and policy-makers. It's incredible to be working in a place that covers everything from aviation to music, the hospitality industry and artificial intelligence.”
She sees her main challenge as creating an emphasis on research, while preserving UWL’s high quality teaching:
The University is great thanks to its teaching staff and the care students receive. It is crucial that we keep developing research in an environment where students feel happy and supported.”
Research within universities is changing, Aude explains:
We're not just in an ivory tower producing research for publication in high impact journals. We can address real cultural, social and economic problems. This kind of research is increasingly valued, and UWL is an incredibly good position to produce it.”
Aude’s role encompasses fostering a strong research culture and building on UWL’s performance in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) rankings, which last year saw it enter the top 100 universities in the country for research for the first time.
The university did very well in the REF. The vast majority of papers scored three or four stars which means we are doing very good research.”
While this ranking is important, Aude believes developing the University’s research culture or research identity is a key way to further improving outcomes.
I am here to support postgraduate researchers and PhD students too. Becoming a researcher is a difficult but exciting journey, and I’m keen to help them realise their potential. It's a great time to try out different methods and approaches to produce disruptive research.”
Aude’s own specialist area is research methods, which she calls “the driving force” behind all research. She enthuses:
I'm passionate about methods - regardless of your discipline, if you understand them, you will be able to push the boundaries of research and of knowledge,”
Another keen interest is equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI):
The university is doing very well in terms of EDI. I would like to translate that success into EDI-related research across the different disciplines.”
Aude is excited by exploring common ground between the schools, to capitalise on UWL’s strengths:
I would like to see more cross-fertilisation to create research that speaks to a variety of audiences,”
She explains.
I think there’s potential for people doing very different things to join together and create things and solve problems.”
Outside of work, Aude is an avid reader with a particular taste for Italian and American literature. She is also a former French national rhythmic gymnastics champion.
I’m very fond of dance and ballet and I’ve worked with dancers looking at the impact of dance and movement on urban environments,”
She says.
Turning the conversation back to research, Aude wants to remind postgraduates to complete the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) which opens on Monday 17 April.
I really would encourage all our postgraduates to complete the PRES and help inform the support and options we provide them going forward.”
Welcome Aude!
Equality and diversity
Find out how we are committed to fostering a culture that promotes a fair and inclusive environment for everyone.
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